Lee Westwood all but removed any doubt that he will be Europe’s Ryder Cup captain in 2022 on Tuesday when he declared the timing ‘ideal’ for him to take the reins in Italy.

Westwood’s superb record as a player — he claimed more points for the cause than even Seve Ballesteros — makes him a certainty to do the job at some point and he made it clear he believed that point to be the next home match.

‘I’m not going to lie to you, I’d love to have it in Italy,’ he said.

Lee Westwood’s record as a player in the Ryder Cup makes him a certainty to be captain